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“Israel” Doesn’t Abide Swap Obligations, Saadat Isolation Continues

“Israel” Doesn’t Abide Swap Obligations, Saadat Isolation Continues
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"Ad-Dameer" Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association said Thursday that an "Israeli" court in Biar Sabbea "Beersheva" decided to extend the isolation of

Popular Front secretary-general Ahmad Saadat for a year.


The association added that the court ruled on secret documents that were presented by the Shin Beit which were released on August 8.


Uncovering that Saadat was present in the court without his lawyers, the association considered that the decision is the opposite of what the prison administration had reportedly promised the Palestinian prisoners.


"They were to end isolation and other policies following the hunger strike," according to the association.


Saadat was recently taken to hospital in Ramle prison as his health deteriorated after the hunger strike. Saadat's family has not been allowed to visit him since March 2009, according to the prisoners' rights group.


"The "Israeli" prison administration has not fulfilled its commitment to stop holding Palestinian prisoners in solitary confinement," the ministry of prisoner affairs in Ramallah said commented.


"Around 20 detainees are still in isolation despite "Israel's" pledge to end the practice following a 3-week mass hunger strike in "Israeli" jails to protest the policy," the ministry said in a statement.


"Israel" promised that detainees would be released from isolation immediately after 477 prisoners were released in a swap deal to free captured "Israeli" soldier Gilad Shalit on Oct. 18, minister of detainees affairs Issa Qaraqe said.


Some prisoners who remain in solitary confinement have been in isolation cells for many years, including Hassan Salama, Ahmad al-Mughrabi, Abdullah al-Barghouthi and Saadat, the ministry noted.

The UN special rapporteur on torture Juan Mendez told a UN General Assembly panel last week that all governments should ban solitary confinement except in extreme circumstances.

"Segregation, isolation, separation, cellular, lockdown, Supermax, the hole ... whatever the name, solitary confinement should be banned by states as a punishment or extortion technique," he said.

He also said "indefinite and prolonged solitary confinement in excess of 15 days should be ended, citing studies that have established that lasting mental damage is caused after a few days of isolation."


Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org

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